cunningham



= l.) a Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. F. CUNNINGHAM, FILE.

No. 543,521. Patented July 30, 1895.

1 XkxM INVENTOR ATTORNEYX.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. F. CUNNINGHAM. FILE.

No. 543,521. Patented July 30, 1895.

ATTORNEYS I (No Model.) a Shets-Sheet J. P. CUNNINGHAM.

FILE. No, 543,521. Patented July 30, 1895.-

ATTORNEY s,

WITNESSES:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN FRANK CUNNINGHAM, or ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

FILE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 543,521, dated July 30,1895.

Application filed October 30, 1894. Serial No. 527,4' 3. (No model.)

My invention relates to improvements in' files particularly applicablefor use with a series of duplicate individual account or pass books forthe customers of grocery and other stores, and has for its object theproduction of a simple and practical device which permit-s convenientand ready access to any desired book; and to this end it consists,essentially, in an outer case, a series of supports or partitionsarranged within the case, and means for inclining said supports orpartitions from their normal position.

The invention furthermore consists in movable panels or covers forpermitting access to the supports or partitions and in the generalconstruction and arrangement of the component parts of the file, all ashereinafter more particularly described, and pointed out in th claims.

In describing this invention reference is had to the accompanyingdrawings, forming a part of this specification, in which like lettersindicate corresponding parts in all the views. j

Figure l is a perspective of my improved case, small portions thereofbeing broken away. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical sectional View takenon line 2 2, Fig. l. enlarged detail sectional view taken on line 3 3,Fig.2. Fig.4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 4 4, Fig. 2.Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 5 5, Fig.- 4, thesupportsor-partitions being shown as inclined and as supportingaccount-books, one

of which is partly withdrawn. Fig. 6 is an isometric view of one of themovable panels or covers of my file, the label-holder supported thereon,and a label shown as partly withdrawn from its normal position. Fig. 7is a detail sectional view taken on line 7 7, Fig. (i, the label beingindicated by dotted lines in its position assumed at Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is aface view of the blank from which the label-holder is formed; and Figs.9 and 10 are Fig. 3 is an perspective views of duplicate account-books,

one of which is normally arranged upon the corresponding support orpartition and the other given to the customer.

It is well known that in grocery and many other stores individualaccount or pass books are given to each of the customers and that theitems entered on such books are originally placed on entry or salestickets or daybooks, &c., and are afterward transferred to a series ofaccount-books, journals, lodgers, 85c. Considerable time is required incorrectly keeping all of these accounts and discrepancies oftenoccurbetween the customers account as shown in his individual book andthe ledger or other account-book of the store, which necessitateexamination of the original entry or sales tickets or day-books andoccasion considerable loss of time, annoyance, and inconvenience.

By the use of my invention it becomes possible and practical for as-torekeeper to use duplicate account or pass books for each one tomer,one of which is given to the customer and the other kept in a particularpigeonhole or compartment within the file, and the file is soconstructed that each book is readily and conveniently accessible.

A represents the outer case, which is of any desirable form, size, andconstruction, and consists of bottom, top, side, front, and rear walls aa a a a a B B are a series of supports or partitions arranged one abovethe other within the case A in substantially-horizontal planes, and, as

here illustrated, there are several substantially-parallel series ofthese supports or partitions separated by upright. partitions or wallsA. The partitions B are formed of tin 'or other light material, and areso constructed and arranged that they are forced to assume an inclinedplane for permitting ready remo val of the account-books 0 arrangedthereon. As here illustrated, the front edges of the supports orpartitions B are mounted upon suitable pivots b and the rear edgesthereof of each series are pivoted to a reciprocating connection or linkB.

I prefer to simultaneously incline all of the supports or partitions B,and suitable means may be used for this purpose. As hereillustrated,-such means consist of a lever D having its central portionmounted on a pivot d and its rear end hinged to the lower ends of theconnections or links B, being provided with an open slot (1 forreceiving a rod B passed through the lower ends of said connections orlinks. The front end of the lever D projects beyond the front wall a ofthe case A and is readily engaged by the user. As the front end of thelever D is depressed its rear end is elevated, and by means of theconnections B all of the supports or partitions B are caused to assumean inclined position, as clearly seen at Fig. 5.

E represents a suitable stop for holding the supports or partitionsB intheir inclined position, and, as here illustrated, this stop consists ofa lever arranged in a cut-out A in one of the partitions A and pivotedat e to a support e suitably secured to said partition. The stop E isprovided with a shoulder 6 which engages the rod 13 when elevated, asindicated at Fig. 5. I also provide suitable means for forcing the stopE from its operative position, and, as preferably constructed, suchmeans consist of a sliding-rod F, having one end extended beyond thefront wall a of the case A and its other end connected to the stop E, sothat as the rod F is pulled outwardly or forwardly the stop E iscorrespondingly moved until its shoulder a is withdrawn from engagementwith the rod B whereupon the supports or partitions B and the lever Dassume their normal position.

G G are suitable springs connected to the rod B for regulating itsdownward movement when the stop E is forced from its operative position,and thereby preventing undue jarring of said supports or partitions andthe lever D, and the injury to said parts that might result were suchsprings dispensed with. I preferably use two springs connected to theopposite extremities of the rod B and the upper end of each of saidsprings is connected to a support G and the lower end to a chain Gwhich, being free to bend, prevents undue cramping of the springssecured thereto.

H II are movable panels or covers, which form, essentially, the greaterpart of the front wall of the case A, and permit access to the supportsor partitions B and the compartments interposed between the partitions,for enabling removal and insertion of the books within saidcompartments. As clearly seen at Fig. 4, the panels or covers H arearranged directly opposite the compartments interposed between thesupports or partitions B, and when the supports or partitions assumetheir inclined position it is extremely desirable that said panels orcovers he moved downwardly for a limited distance in order that theirupper edges may be in alignment with the inclined planes assumed by thetop faces of the supports or partitions.

As clearly seen at Figs. 1, 2, 4, and 5, the opposite edges of thepanels or covers H are movable in guides A formed in the uprightpartitions or walls A and in the side walls a of the case A, and, asbest seen at Figs. 1 and 2, the lower panel or cover of each seriesthereof is supported directly upon a transverse support or bar H,secured to the lever D and having its opposite extremities movable inthe guides A in said partitions A and the side walls a of the case A.Consequently, as the front or free end of the lever D is depressed, aspreviously described, for elevating the supports or partitions B, thesupport or bar 11' is depressed and the panels or-covers II are alsodepressed a sufficient distance to bring their top edges in alignmentwith the planes assumed by the top faces of the supports or partitionsB.

To facilitate ready access to the supports or partitions B, the panelsor covers II are provided with engaging arms 1', audit will be readilyunderstood that, when the lever D has elevated the partitions, as shownat Fig. 5, the operator engages the arm 1' provided upon the panel orcover corresponding to the desired account-book, whereupon said bookreadily slides from its support or partition, as clearly seen at Fig. 5.In elevating a panel or cover H, all of the superimposed panels orcovers are similarly elevated but only the book desired escapes from thecase, and the books supported above the same are held in position by thesuperimposed panels.

The arms 71 are preferably provided upon suitable label-holders I, whichare secured to the panels or covers I-I. These label-holders arepreferably formed of sheet metal, and are provided with projecting arms11 passed through the covers or panels and clinched upon the inner facesthereof, and upper, lower, and end shoulders 2' for engaging the edgesof a label 1 which enters an opening i formed between one end of thelabel-holder and the panel or cover H. The label-holders I are providedwith perforations or apertures 1 for permitting inspection of the labels1 and said labels are provided with distinguishing characters I, whichindicate the names of the customers whose accounts are entered in thecorresponding books, or conform to a separate index of said namesarranged alphabetically, numerically, or in any other practical manner.

The books 0 0 arranged within my improved case may be of any desirableform, size, and construction, but are preferably of the specialconstruction described in my pending application, Serial No. 527,454,and are also the duplicates of corresponding books 0 given to thecustomers. Each page (J is provided with a series of transverse lines 0,forming a series of spaces in which the desired main entries indicatingthe names of the customers and the articles sold are made. At the outersides of the pages 0 are longitudinal lines 0 extending across the linesc at substantially right angles therewith, and pref erably forming aseries of spaces provided at their upper portions with the words Month,Day, and Entered, and designed to receive entries regarding the monthand day when the, main entry is made, and certain check-marks, as V,which indicate that a single main entry has been made in two duplicatebooks. At the inner edges of each of the leaves are a series of lines 0which are arranged substantially parallel with the lines o and formspaces provided at their upper portions with dollar and cents signs, andare designed to receive entries-of the charge for the article sold andindicated by the main entry. The main entries are placed on the lines c,or within the spaces formed thereby between the adjacent lines o 0 andat the upper portion of the space formed between said lines o c are thewords Total amt. fwd. Each line 0, or the space formed by two adjacentlines o, is provided with distinguishing characters, as consecutivenumbers 1, 2, 3, &c. Both books are provided with similar ruling,wording, and distinguishing characters, and duplicate accounts are keptin each, and when the entries indicating the article sold and the pricethereof are placed in the proper spaces in one book they are also placedin the corresponding spaces in the other book, and check-marks, as V,are entered in the proper check -spaces. Consequently, the storekeeperor his assistant can immediately tell, .upon examining the book in thecase A corresponding to a customers book, whether all of the items havebeen entered in the customers book, and when said book is presented canplace each entry in the same space occupied by the corresponding entryin the store-keepers book. In books of this character the footings ofeach one of a duplicate pair must be identical and are a simple means ofproving the correctnessof the account. The original entry in thestore-keepers book in my improved file cannot be questioned, there is noliability of items being omitted from'the customers book, and the amountof bookkeeping necessary for keeping accounts with the customers isreduced to a minimum, and a great saving in time is effected, since, ifdesired, the books in the case A are preferably used as the onlyaccount-books with the customers.

My improved file is particularly applicable for use with books of thisconstruction; but it is evident that it is not limited for use with anyparticular construction of book, and it is,

obvious that it may be used for filing papers, documents, 850., to whichready access is desired.

The operation of my invention will be readily perceived upon referenceto the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings, and it,willbe particularly noted that it is simple in construction and is practicaland effective in use.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A file comprising an outer case, a support or partition arrangedwithin the case, in asubstantially horizontal plane and having its frontextremity pivoted and its rear extremity movable up and down within thecase, and means for rocking the support or partition on its pivot,substantially as and for-the purpose specified.

2. A file comprising an outer case, a pivoted support or partitionarranged within the case, means for rocking the support or partition onits pivot, and a vertically reciprocating panel or cover supported infront of the support or partition and movable independent thereoffor'permitting access to said support or partition, substantially as andfor the purpose set forth.

3. A file comprising an outer case, a support or partition arrangedwithin the case in a'substantially horizontal plane and having its frontextremity pivoted and its rear extremity movable up and down within thecase, means for rocking the support or partition on its pivot, and avertically reciprocating panel or cover supported in front of thesupport or partition and movable independent thereof for permittingaccess to said support or partition, substantially as and for thepurpose described.

4. A file comprising an outer case, a series of supports or partitionsarranged normally in substantially horizontal planes one above theother, a connection between the supports or partitions forsimultaneously inclining the same, and means for operating theconnection, substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. A file comprising an outer case, a series of pivoted supports orpartitions arranged within the case one above the other, a connectionbetween the free ends of the supports or partitions for simultaneouslyrocking the same on their pivots, and means for operating theconnection, substantially as set forth.

6. A file comprising an outer case, a substantially horizontal supportor partition arranged within the case, a vertically recipro-. catingpanel or cover supported in front of the support or partition andmovable independent thereof for permitting access to the support orpartition, and means for inclining said support or partition andautomatically moving the panel or cover, substantially as described.

7. A file comprising an outer case, a substantially horizontal supportor partition arranged within the case, a movable panel or cover forpermitting access to the support or partition, a movable support for thepanel or cover, and means for inclining said support or partition andautomatically moving the support'for the panel or cover, substantiallyas specified.

8. A file comprising an outer case, separate 9. A file comprising anouter case, a substantially horizontal support or partition arrangedwithin the case, means for inclining the support or partition, and aspring for regulating the return movement of the support or partition,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

10. A file comprising an outer case, a substantially horizontal support.or partition arranged within the case, a movable panel or cover forpermitting access to the support or partition, a movable support for thepanel or cover, means for inclining said support or partition andautomatically moving the support for the panel or cover, and a springfor regulating the return movement of said means, substantially asdescribed.

11. A file comprising an outer case, a support or partition arrangedwithin the case, in a substantially horizontal plane and having itsfront extremity pivoted and its rear extremity movable up and downwithin the case, means for inclining the support or partition,

and a stop for holding said support or parti-.

tion in its inclined position, substantially as specified.

12. A file comprising an outer case, a substantially horizontal supportor partition ar ranged within the case, means for inclining the supportor partition, a stop for holding said support or partition in itsinclined position, and means for forcing the stop from its operativeposition, substantially as set forth.

13. A file comprising an outer case, a substantially horizontal supportor partition arranged within the case, means for inclining the supportor partition, and a vertically reciprocating panel or cover supported infront of the support or partition and movable independent thereof forpermitting access to said support or partition, said panel or coverbeing provided with a distinguishing character, substantially as and forthe purpose described.

l l. A file comprising an outer case, a substantially horizontal supportor partition ar ranged within the case, means for inclining the supportor partition, a vertically reciprocating panel or cover supported infront of the support or partition and movable independent thereof forpermitting access to the support or partition, and a label holdersecured to the panel or cover, substantially as described.

15. A file comprising an outer case, a sub stantially horizontal supportor partition ar' ranged within the case, means for inclining the supportor partition, a vertically reciprocating panel or cover supported infront of the support or partition and movable independent thereof forpermitting access to the support or partition, a label holder secured tothe panel or cover, and a label removably mounted in the label holder,substantially as specified.

16. A file comprising an outer case, a substantially horizontal supportor partition arranged within the case, means for inclining the supportor partition, a vertically reciprocating panel or cover supported infront of the support or partition and movable independent thereof forpermitting access to the support or partition, and a label holdersecured to the panel or cover and consistingof a perforated plate havingsupporting shoulders and projecting arms passed through the panel orcover, substantially as and for the purpose described.

17. A file comprising an outer case, a support or partition arrangedwithin the case, in a substantially horizontal plane and having itsfront extremity pivoted and its rear ex' tremity movable up and downwithin the case and a pivoted lever connected to the rear extremity ofthe support or partition for inclining the same, substantially as andfor the purpose specified.

18. A file comprising an outer case, a pivoted support or partitionarranged Within the case, a connection or link hinged to the freeextremity of the support or partition, and a pivoted lever connected tothe connection or link for actuating the same and inclining the supportor partition, substantially as and for the purpose described.

19. A filecomprising an outer case, a pivoted support or partitionarranged within the case, a connection or link hinged to the freeextremity of the support or partition, a pivoted lever hinged to theconnection or link for actuating the same and inclining the support orpartition, and a pivoted stop for preventing the return movement of thelever, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

20. A file comprising an outer case, a pivoted support or partitionarranged within the case, a connection or link hinged to the freeextremity of the support or partition, a pivoted lever hinged to theconnection or link for actuating the same and inclining the support orpartition, and a spring for regulating the return movement of the lever,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

21. A file comprising an outer case, a pivoted support or partitionarranged within the case, a connection or link hinged to the freeextremity of the support or partition, a pivoted lever connected to saidconnection or link for actuating the same and inclining the support orpartition, a pivoted stop for preventing the return movement of thelever, and a spring for regulating the return movement of the lever,substantially as set forth.

22. A file comprising an outer case, a pivoted support or partitionarranged within the case, a connection or link hinged to the freeextremity of the support or partition, a pivoted lever connected to saidconnection or link for actuating the same and inclining the support orpartition, a pivoted stop for preventing the return movement of thelever, and a sliding rod for forcing the stop from operative position,substantially as described.

A file comprising an outer case, a pivoted support or partition arrangedwithin the case, a movable panel or cover for permitting access to thesupport or partition, a support for the panel or cover arranged beneaththe same, a connection or link hinged to the support or partition, and apivoted lever having v one end connected to the connection or link foractuating the same and inclining the support or partition and its otherend arranged beneath the support for the panel or cover forautomatically moving said panel or cover, substantially as specified'2t. A file comprising an outer case, a pivoted support or partitionarranged Within the case, a movable panel or cover for permitting accessto the support or partition, a support for the panel or cover arrangedbeneath the same, a connection or link hinged to the support orpartition, a pivoted lever having one end connected to the connection orlink for actuating the same and inclining the support or partition andits other end arranged beneath the support for the panel or cover for

